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Tuesday, 26 May 2015

Transgender has become a hot topic in the media of late. From the success of shows like Transparent, to gossip column rumors about Bruce (for now) Jenner, to political debates over bathroom bills and civil rights legislation, transgender people -– those whose gender identity does not align with their birth-assigned gender -- are getting a lot of attention. Because transgender is a hot topic, everyone seems to have an opinion on it and, especially in places like op-Ed pages and blog comments sections, many self-appointed experts have been sharing what they view as the “facts” of being transgender with others. Not surprisingly, many of those facts are plain wrong...

Wednesday, 20 May 2015

Despite societal discrimination and religious persecution, homosexuality and bi-sexuality, like heterosexuality, are inborn traits that cannot be changed and are not a choice. Attempted suppression does not work. It always pushes through. Human sexuality is very complex. It is not simply one moment or one single dividing cell, that affects one’s sexuality but a series of changes and combinations of androgens released prenatally at specific times (or not) which establish a person’s sexual orientation...

This 2012 post has some interesting information on the biological determination of sexuality, the definition of gender and intersex conditions. Links are provided for further reading. Above all, it nails very thoroughly the oft-repeated myth that we are all either male or female, and our sex/gender is determined purely by our genitalia.

Tuesday, 12 May 2015

My younger brother is gay. Gay as laughter. Gay as the day is long. One of the finest moments in my life, and one of the greatest compliments anyone has ever paid me, was the day he felt safe to come out to me. He’s in his mid-30s now, but he’ll always be my little brother. And man, I love that kid. He’s brilliant, he’s funny, and he’s kind. And he just married a phenomenal man.

I was always predisposed to like his husband because, y’know, he’s my brother’s partner and therefore has automatic status in my heart. The wonderful bonus is that I really like him. He’s brilliant, he’s funny, and he’s kind. He’s a cool dude to hang out with. He also stood by my brother like a rock when my brother had a life-threatening cancer that cost him his left eye.